Fourth case of mpox reported in Pakistan this year

Two people from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were diagnosed with mpox virus, officials confirmed on Saturday.

A 32-year-old man has been admitted to Nipa Infectious Disease Hospital in Karachi after the confirmation of the disease.

Another 51-year-old from KP's Orakzai was shifted to Services Hospital Peshawar after being diagnosed with mpox at Peshawar airport.

According to the official, both individuals have a travel history. The man from Karachi recently returned from Jeddah, while Peshawar’s man also came from abroad.

However, the number of cases reached three in Khyber while Sindh reported the first case of mpox.

“We are treating this case with the utmost seriousness and are prepared for all possible outcomes,” said a spokesperson from the Sindh health department.

On the other hand, the government took precautionary measures to deal with the newly emerging virus.

The Federal Ministry of Health issued strict guidelines for screening, isolation, and other measures, including thermal scanning at all international airports in the country.

Meanwhile, the civil aviation authority also guided all airlines designated to Pakistan from abroad to follow the prevention measures against monkeypox. 

However, Border Health Services were also working at international airports to manage the isolation and transportation for the people diagnosed or suspects of mpox.

The virus outbreak in South Africa and spread outside the continent. 

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), mpox is a viral disease related to the smallpox virus. Initial symptoms of the disease include fever, chills, muscle pain, and swelling of the glands with a raised lesion that scabs over and takes a week to end.